Written question asked by Sharon Hodgson (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 December 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 December 2021. It was answered by Maria Caulfield (Conservative) on Wednesday, 15 December 2021 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Earwax: Injuries

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number of people presenting to the NHS with injuries suffered as a result of treating ear wax by self-removal and (b) the cost to the public purse of treating those patients, in each of the last five years.

Answer: No formal estimate has been made as this data is not held centrally. General practitioner (GP) practices are increasingly recommending self-care methods as the primary means to support the safe removal of ear wax. However, if a GP practice considers removal clinically necessary, the procedure should either be undertaken at the practice, or the patient should be referred to an appropriate local NHS service depending on the arrangements in place. Local commissioners are responsible for meeting the health needs of their local population and should continue to ensure there is appropriate access to ear wax removal services.

Secondary information